Marko denies trying to blackmail Todt over engine issue

Todt says taking away super licence of Mazepin would be discrimination
30 October 2020 by    1 min read
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Oct.30 - Dr Helmut Marko has denied Jean Todt's charge that he is trying to "blackmail" the FIA president over his demands regarding Red Bull's engine decision for 2022.

Red Bull has threatened to quit Formula 1 if it cannot take over the departing Honda's engine program, insisting it will require a 2022 development 'freeze'.

"I respect every opinion and every application, but I will not allow myself to be blackmailed," FIA president Todt told Auto Motor und Sport this week.

Marko, Red Bull's top Austrian official close to owner Dietrich Mateschitz, denies the charge.

"This is not blackmail, this is a fact," Marko said of the quit threat.

"If there is no development stop, we cannot carry out the Honda project. With these complex engines, further development is not possible without a development centre like Sakura. And the costs of that are not affordable," he insisted.

Marko said Red Bull is highly reluctant to return to the days of being a mere engine customer, with Mercedes already ruling out a 2022 deal.

"We'd have to come to an agreement with Ferrari or Renault first, which sounds simple but it's not," said the Austrian.

"You could imagine what would happen if we beat the factory team with a Ferrari engine. And there is this new confidence at Renault that they will tear everything down with their new engine and Mr Alonso in 2022," Marko added.

"The regulations require equal treatment, but there are ways of creating differences. If we don't agree, an exit is an option for us. We only showed the reality."

On the other hand, he said handling the Honda engines in conjunction with a 2022 development freeze would not cost "exorbitantly" more than the EUR 15 million cost of being a customer.

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3 F1 Fan comments on “Marko denies trying to blackmail Todt over engine issue”

  1. ReallyOldRacer

    RB is not Ferrari, bluffs don't work. Quit whining, build your own engine or leave. There are other consortiums looking for a F1 ticket.

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  2. charles green

    let red bull do as they like there are lots of other teams that are good so tell them dont try to stand over the authorities

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  3. David Larison

    Guys come on, we need Red Bull in Formula 1. If Honda agrees to let Red Bull develop their Engine let them,( We need the Development Stop). Mercedes has it all their way with their car so good for them, although I can remember when Colin Chapman had exclusive rights to the Cosworth Engine and was unbeatable with Jimmy Clark driving. Colin allowed other Teams access to the Cosworth Engine rather than keep it for Lotus( Yes I am old ). Formula 1 needs Parity among the Teams, one solution would be to allow 2 classes of Engines. If the Smaller Teams could run Turbos and be able to compete it would help the Sport. Or am I wrong, David


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